Adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a nice massage. The calming rubbing motions of a good baby massage will really benefit your little one. Not only can this be a relaxing experience for your infant, but it can also help with bonding between baby (or babies in the case of twins or multiples) and parent, help soothe babies with tummy or teething troubles, calm down fussy babies, and even help with the development of their muscles. With all these possible benefits, it really is worth giving it a try.

Baby massage can be done right from the time you bring your new bundle of joy home from the hospital, by either parent. With just a few simple instructions you will know the basics that are necessary in order to get started. There is no need to purchase complicated manuals, though infant massage books can give you some new ideas of different techniques you could try should you find both you and your child enjoy massage.

Since many babies like routine, you might want to try doing a baby massage at around the same time each day as a part of your infant care routine. Then your little one will be able to look forward to the experience each day and know to expect it. The only things you want to avoid doing are trying to fit in a massage when you are rushed, or when the baby is too full or too hungry, as this will limit the benefits and might have unpleasant consequences (such as the baby spitting up his or her last meal). Other than that any time is good for a quick massage.

Although it is not necessary to use any type of massage oil for a baby massage, using a dab of oil can make your hands slide even more easily over his or her skin. You just want to make sure that you use an edible vegetable oil or fruit oil that doesn’t have any smell. Your baby is sure to put his hands or feet in his mouth, so you want to keep things safe. Mineral oils should be avoided since they can cause pores to clog, and nut oils should be avoided due to the potential allergy issues.

Because your infant will need to be mostly unclothed for the baby massage, you will want to make sure the room is around 75 degrees so he or she won’t get cold. You can lay the infant down on a changing mat, a bed, or even a rug, just put down a towel first if you are using oil to avoid stains. Choose a place that will be comfortable for both you and your baby.

Even if your baby typically enjoys massage, you will want to watch for any signs that she doesn’t want to continue. Some days she just might not be in the mood for a massage, or only be in the mood for a short massage. You should stop when she starts to fuss or show signs she has had enough. You can always try again another time, but you don’t want to make it an unpleasant experience.

You don’t want to use too much pressure or too little pressure when you are giving a massage. For infants, it is best to use about the amount of pressure that would be comfortable against your eyelids. Otherwise you might end up making it a painful experience or a ticklish one for your baby. The direction of your strokes should be determined by the time of day. Going away from the heart will help to relax your little one for bed, and going toward the heart will be stimulating for times when your baby will be awake for a while.

Different parts of the body are best massaged in different ways. For the legs and arms, you can hold the foot or hand and use the other hand to squeeze and stroke down the limb and then back up, finishing up by using your thumbs to rub the hands and feet. You can also rub down the sides of the body starting at the head and going to the feet. You can rub across the back, first from one side to the other and then from the top to the bottom. For the chest, it feels nice to start with both hands in the center and stroke outward.

Content guidance provided by Amy Hall, M.O.M (Mom of Multiples)